Slight ticking sound when cold

[nelson480]

Ive been told by my father this is normal BUT im worried, mainly because i just put this engine in July!

At idle when first started in the morning, or whenver it gets cold, the engine makes a slight ticking noise. Its getting colder now and i currently have 10W-30 Valvoline MaxLife in it, is this oil too thick for the weather, or is the ticking normal? Timing belt is good, and also i can hear a scrubbing sound when its cold too, like the belt is rubbing somthing, but isnt.

Any ideas?

[white4d96]

Probably rockers or lifters? That's what I was told. I was also told it doesn't really hurt anything and would kill the wallet to fix.

 

Assuming the noise goes away once it warms up that is.

[jake91]

if it goes away when warm its lifter tick very normal and 10-30 might be a bit thick for a dohc in the cold i run 5-30 in mine

[white4d96]

That's what I run as well. I'm almost tempted to switch to 0-20 on the next change, on account of the winter and all. Still unsure though, don't want to kill an oil pump

[Addicted to eaton]

i Run 10-w30. Its just the lifters ticking. It might be a little piston slap also. Both are normal.

[nelson480]

i Run 10-w30. Its just the lifters ticking. It might be a little piston slap also. Both are normal.

 

cool thanks it does indeed go away after warmup, thanks!

[xtremerevolution]

Pour in a quart of Rislone Engine treatment next time you do an oil change in lieu of a quart of oil. See if that goes away.

Edited November 5, 2010 by xtremerevolution

[nelson480]

Pour in a quart of Rislone Engine treatment next time you do an oil change in lieu of a quart of oil. See if that goes away.

well as long as someone else agrees its normal, im not going that extreme, I just put the engine in and was worried, its a 80K mile motor

[tornado_735]

Sounds like piston slap to me. Don't sweat it.

 

I had an Alero a few years back that had a 40k mile LA1 3400 in it. When it was cold, it sounded like the whole top end was coming apart lol!

[nelson480]

Sounds like piston slap to me. Don't sweat it.

 

I had an Alero a few years back that had a 40k mile LA1 3400 in it. When it was cold, it sounded like the whole top end was coming apart lol!

Ive seen on youtube the 3400s do that ALOT! But we had a 99 Grand Am with that engine, was silent tho! Car had 120K on it and I swear it was new! Had all hwy miles, bought it for 1200 and cleaned it up and resold for 5K!

[dodgethis]

Mine does it in a 3100 sfi